The appearance of Tavistock is enhanced by the street trees between our sidewalks and the streets, which enhances our property values. There is a yearly community program that aims to foster community awareness and improve the appearance and life of the trees. Our Tree Committee obtains bids for the work from certified tree firms. Experts from the State Urban and Community Forestry Program support our Tree Committee with advice and matching grants.

Each spring the tree committee obtains bids to remove dead wood, thin where necessary, and maintain clearance over the sidewalks and streets for a section of Tavistock. A matching grant is applied for from the State and the tree work is done in the late fall. It takes about four years to go through all the sections of Tavistock. Every three to four years an additional grant is applied for to the State to plant new trees in vacant locations. The plantings are done by certified tree firms. These programs are paid for through the Association dues and the grant money from the State.

Some of our street trees are nearing the end of their lives. After consultation with the State experts and the adjacent homeowners, such trees can be included in the yearly program for removal. The community/grant pays for half the cost, and the adjacent homeowner pays half. Stump removal is paid for by the homeowner.  If you would like to learn more about the program or discuss the condition of your street trees, please call the Tree Committee chairman, Frank Maderich, at 478-5798.

Resource Available for College-bound Students

For the parents of college-bound students, a free resource may help take some of the sting out of tuition costs.  The Delaware Scholarship Compendium (Fall 2011), published by the Delaware Higher Education Office, offers advice on planning and paying for college.  The 60-page publication includes information on dozens of available scholarships as well as state financial aid programs. "This is a great tool for every parent," said State Rep. Nick Manolakos (R-Limestone Hills), who is also the Academic Dean at Alexis I. duPont High School in Greenville.  "It's a real good resource that contains details of scholarships of which many people may not even be aware." The eligibility criteria for the scholarship varies widely.  Some target students looking to enter specific professions, like engineering or education.  Others are performance-based, seeking students who have distinguished themselves academically. Some require applicants to have a parent or relative working for the organization making the award.  The $10,000 Perdue Scholarship is open to high school seniors who are the children of current Perdue employees as well as the sons and daughters of independent poultry producers under contract with the company. Many scholarships include a geographic component, requiring potential recipients to live in a certain area.  For instance, the Howard and Edna Postles Scholarship limits applicants to high school seniors living within a 15 mile radius of the City of Milford. Rep. Manolakos said college is expensive and will not be getting cheaper anytime soon.  "There are scholarships out there of every stripe and, in exchange for the time needed to apply for them, you may be rewarded with significant money to whittle down that tuition bill." Despite the cost, Rep. Manolakos says college education is still a solid investment.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people having only a high school education in 2010 had an unemployment rate of 10.3 percent and weekly median earnings of $626.  By comparison, those earning a Bachelor's Degree had a weekly median paycheck of $1,038 and an unemployment rate nearly half of their high school-educated counterparts (5.4 percent).  The data showed that trend continued for higher levels of educational attainment. The current edition of the Delaware Scholarship Compendium has been distributed to high schools throughout the state.  Also being made available are college planning checklists for high school juniors and seniors.  All three publications can be found on the website of the Delaware Higher Education Office click here.   Hard copies can also be obtained by calling 302-735-4120.